Synthesis and reactivity of a very strong reducing agent containing a quadruple bond: Structures of W2(hpp)4 and W2(hpp)4Cl2 · 4CH2Cl2

  • F. Albert Cotton
  • , Penglin Huang
  • , Carlos A. Murillo
  • , Xiaoping Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

The preparation and structural characterization of the very strong reducing agent W2(hpp)4, hpp = the anion of 1,3,4,6,7, 8-hexahydro-2H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidine, 1, has been accomplished. It has a short distance of 2.1617(4) Å for the quadruply-bonded W24+ unit. Compound 1 is very reactive and gives the triple bonded W2(hpp)4Cl2· 4CH2Cl2, 2 · 4CH2Cl2, upon crystallization after mere contact with the haloalkane CH2Cl2. The change in electronic configuration from the σ2π4δ2 in 1 to the σ2π4 system in 2 increases the W-W distance by ca. 0.09 to 2.2497(8) Å. W2(hpp)4 also reduces C60 and 7, 7′, 8, 8′-tetracyanoquinodimethide, TCNQ. The latter is reduced to the TCNQ2- anion while the W24+ unit is oxidized to the W26+ state.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)121-126
Number of pages6
JournalInorganic Chemistry Communications
Volume6
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2003
Externally publishedYes

Funding

We are grateful to the Robert A. Welch Foundation for financial support.

Keywords

  • Ditungsten
  • Guanidinate ligands
  • Metal-metal bonds
  • Strong reducing agent

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